<<but on the Islands most machines imposed a $100 limit>>

Will the Hawaiian locals please explain this??? How do you manage?? And why is Hawaii different than the rest of the world where you can get $600 (or 600Euro) at a time???

I have withdrawn several hundred dollars at a time from an ATM from my account at American Savings, and was with a friend who withdrew $500 from an ATM at Bank of Hawai`i. My husband has no problems getting cash money from ATM's at his bank, First Hawaiian.

I'm not sure how much my daily limit is (as I never have need for that much cash at home) - but I know it is over $200.

Better check it out to be sure. I know our credit union only allows a daily $300 withdrawal per account, from any ATM anywhere (which was a problem when our pension in Prague required payment in cash, and I hadn't pulled out enough in advance-- good thing I had two ATM accounts to draw from!). It must be at the discretion of the banks. Or maybe in Hawaii it's too difficult to re-stock the ATMs constantly, so they have a strict limit?

Check with your bank. My bank told me I could get up to $500 a day on my ATM card, and $500 a day on my wife's ATM card -- same account. All banks are different and have different rules, especially credit unions.

kobrien7 - there are lots of good suggestions here and you should be able to do Hawaii with your kids for a reasonable amount. It would be wise to check with the rental car companies because many do require a creidt card, but some do take debit cards too - I know Thrifty does because my sister just rented from them with a debit card. You won't need a car for more than a day or two to drive around the island - parking is scarce and expensive in Waikiki and the hotels charge a pretty penny which would increase your daily budget. You can get passes from ABC stores for The Bus which will allow you & your kids to use The Bus all you want and it won't cost much. The Bus goes all over the island and is a fun way to meet locals as well as get around.

There are numerous "This Week on Oahu" books all over the place - they have gillions of coupons in them for everything from souvineers to food and activities. I would suggest picking up a few (there are several different ones) when you arrive and then read through them in your hotel room after you check in and then you and your kids can decide what you might want to do and pull out the coupons that pertain to your chosen activities.

The swapmeet out at Aloha Stadium is a great way to save money - it's open Wed/Sat/Sun and you can get there on The Bus.

If you're into history - there's Iolani Palace - for about $20 pp the tour is great. There's also a free tour of the Sheraton Moana Surfrider (the 1st hotel on Waikiki) which is fun and informative about Waikiki and Hawaii.

You'll find fun entertainment for the price of a drink (or soda for the kids) in many of the beachside hotels - some even have hula dancing. There's also hula dancing in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and the International Market Place - free shows that are fun to watch.

I'm sure you and your kids will have a great time. Check out the Hawaiiana Hotel - it's a great little hotel and is very inexpensive - also offers kitchenettes - has 2 pools, 1/2 block from the beach. Check it out at HawaiianaHotel.com.

I know this sounds a little antiquated, but if I didn't have a credit card, I'd bring travelers checks with me in addition to a debit card. For heaven's sakes what if you lose the debit card or it loses its magnetic-ness or some other strange issue comes up with your account. I always bring a bit of cash, several credit cards, and a debit card. I'm just thinking of the safety of a single mom and minors traveling.

For bashfulLV- Thanks for the siteseeing tips that sound like my kind of activities. I am going on my 2nd trip to Waikiki and staying at the Hawaiiana Hotel again. Your recommendation of the place (Nov 03) was invaluable information!